Bin trucks owned by Panda will be outfitted with cameras to see what materials are not being recycled properly, according to a spokesperson for the Irish Waste Management Association.

Irish recycling rates have stagnated at around 40% over the last 10 years – as have rates across many other European nations.

Secretary of the Irish Waste Management Association (IWMA) Conor Walsh told The Pat Kenny Show that we need to bring this up to 55% by the end of the year.

“We get that it’s not everybody’s top of the priority but at the same time we need to meet the recycling targets," he said.

"If we don’t, we get fined and we pay money to Europe that we could be spending on much better things in this country.

“So, look, we all do need to make an effort, we’re trying to help people with feedback and the way we’re doing that is Panda, for example, have trialled a system of what we call a 'contamination detection system'.

“It’s cameras on the back of trucks and because we have a very advanced system in Ireland where every bin is chipped and every bin is weighted, every bin can be related back to the customer.”

Card and glass bottles in recycling bins ready for collection, 14-8-17. Image: Steve Hawkins Photography / Alamy

According to Mr Walsh, this follows an 18-month long “highly successful” trial by Panda.

He said the IWMA is now trying to convince all other bin truck companies to get involved in the initiative.

“It was a lot of trial and error to get it right but it’s right now," he said.

"There are other systems that use AI so it’s up to each company to decide what system they want to use."

Increased charges

Mr Walsh said households that put inappropriate material in the recycling bin will be emailed a photograph of their waste pointing out their mistake.

“What we found is that between 30% and 55% of the recycling bins were contaminated initially and that came down to about 5% after this effort, so it’s hugely effective,” he said.

“If you keep doing it and you’re blatantly ignoring all the advice and all the feedback, well then you’re not complying with your contract.

“Your contract is to provide recyclables in one bin and residual or general waste in another and food or garden [waste] in the third bin.”

Mr Walsh said that customers who fail to do so will face increased charges.

Main image: Refuse collectors riding on rear of collection lorry in Spain. Islandstock / Alamy. 31 January 2018